Blue Angels commander steps down after subpar performance - CNN.com

Unusual!

The Blue Angels commander took full responsibility for a subpar performance instead of blaming it on the equipment. (Northrop Grumman builds a major portion of the F/A-18 aircraft used by the Blue Angels. )

The article is here:

http://www.cnn.com/2011/US/05/27/virginia.blue.angels/index.html

Bombers: Pentagon official visits aerospace execs to discuss bomber planes - latimes.com

Northrop Grumman still wants to build long range stealthy bombers.

Now Boeing and Lockheed also want to build long range stealthy bombers.

Seems that the US Air Force thinks it's time for an upgrade.

The US Air Force now has fifty year old B-52's, thirty year old B-1s, and 20 B-2s -  and want a newer set of bombers.

This is a potential $55 billion contract.

See the article in the L.A. Times:

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-fi-new-bomber-20110522,0,4695480.story

 

Article: Northrop Grumman to Cut Jobs on Defense Spending Slowdown

Good news for the stockholders, not so good news for the affected employees. 

By reducing employees, Northrop Grumman lessens potential losses due to paying out more than it takes in because of the slowdown in define spending. Instead of paying its employees a slightly lower salary Northrop Grumman prefers laying people off. See the Four Percent Solution that I previously suggested where a 4% reduction in costs is achieved with a 4% pay cut instead of a 4% (500 people) lay-off. 

Northrop Grumman to Cut Jobs on Defense Spending Slowdown - Seeking Alpha

Article: Northrop Grumman Aims To Take On Predato

Northrop Grumman wants a piece of the unmanned air vehicle market - see

Northrop Grumman Aims To Take On Predator - Aviation Week